Multiple adjustment for stringed musical instruments



Nov. 28, 1950 H. HISE El AL 5 5 MULTIPLE ADJUSTMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICALINSTRUMENTS Filed May 11, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l e: %Z%Z fiia Nov. 28,1950 H HISE ET AL 5 5 MULTIPLE AbJUSTMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICALINSTRUMENTS Filed May 11, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WWW F Nov. 28, 1950 H.HlSE r-n- AL 2,531,569

MULTIPLE ADJUSTMENT FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 3. Sheets-Sheet 3Filed May 11, 1948 Patented Nov. 28, 1950 MULTIPLE ADJUSTMENTYFQRHSTRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Herbert Hise, Chicago, and John BCousineau, Oak Park, 111.; saidCousin'eau-assignor to said HiseApplication May 11, 1948, Serial No. 26,344

15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to musical'instruments and especially stringedmusical instruments of the guitar type adapted to be played with a steelmovable along the strings to change their effective length.

More particularly, invention resides in improvements in stringed musicalinstruments of the type described in our United States Patent No.2,467,086; dated April 12, 1949. The described instrument is of theguitar type employing electrical amplification and which is played byplucking or strumming the tensioned strings adjacent one of the bridgemembers as the steel is longitudinally shifted to change the effectivelength of the strings. By changing the tension of one or more of thestringssingly or in combination, the musical chord of the instrument maybe varied; that is, it may be changed from a major chord to a minorchord, a seventh chord, an augmented chord, or other desired chordtuning. As described in'the pending application, changes in tension inone or a group of the strings may be effected bystring-engaging fingerssecured to rotatable shafts, and in order to secure a wide range ofchords without stopping to retune the instrument, a large number ofstringengaging units is provided; Since each unit is operated by aseparate foot pedal, it will be evident that as the range of theinstrument is broadened, complexity of construction and playing of theinstrument is proportionately increased.

It is an object of this invention to simplify the construction of astringed musical instrument to provide a wide range of chord adjustmentswhile playing without unduly complicating the instrument'or the playingthereof.

Another object is to provide a stringed-musical instrument in which aplurality of stringed tension adjustments may be effected from a singlefoot pedal thereby to enable a greatnumber of chord changes to be easilyand simply secured with a minimum of effort on the part of the player.

A further object is to provide an arrangement whereby relatively fewfoot-operating pedals areconnected by lever and link means to operatingfingers adapted selectively to vary the tension of the strings whereby alarge number of chords are selectively secured while playing greatly toincrease-the range and versatility of the instrument in an eifectiveandefilcient manner.

A still further object resides in the construction of the operatingfingers whereby adjustments thereof can be made independently of eachother and the actuating means.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterappear, and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation,embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l isa perspective view showing a console model of a stringed musicalinstrument of the guitar type embodying features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1

Figure 3'i's a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3"of-Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a sideelevational view with parts broken away to illustratethe arrangement of elements in the string tensioning mechanism;

Figure 51s a top plan View of the string tensloping mechanism;

Figure 6 is a top view of a modified form of string tensioningmechanism;

Figure '7 is a side elevation partially in section of the operatingparts in the tensioning mechanism of Fig. 6

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line8-8'ofFig. 7; and

Figure 9 is a sectional elevational view of the string engaging elementshown in Figure 8.

Briefly described, the present invention relates to atuninginstrumentality for stringed musical instruments of the guitartype. The tuning instrumentality is pedal operated by the performerwhile playing to'incr'ease or decrease the tension of one'ora group ofstrings thereby to alter the tone of those strings and vary the chord ofthe instrument. A wide range of chords may be secured when means areprovided for altering the tensioning of various combinations of strings,and'such chord changes can be effected without stopping manually toalter the tuning by string readjustment at the tuning posts. In order tosecure a' wide range of chords without unduly complicating theinstrument, new and novel arrangements are provided whereby a number ofchord'changes'c'an be effected from a single foot pedal.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention, shown in Figs. 1 to 5inclusive, is drawn to a stringed musical instrument of the consolestyle wherein a pair of uprights l0 carry a'rectangularbox-like supportH in spaced relation with a baselz which is adapted to rest on-thefloor.

The support H; which is hollow to provide a resonant chamber, may beformed with an opening l3 across which strings l4, tensionallyarrangedinparallel relation, extend to enable the resonant chamber to befully effective. The

strings M are secured at their opposite ends to a connecting bar l5 andto tuning posts l6 mounted on the end of a casing H. The tension of thestrings I4 is initially adjusted at the tuning posts. The strings areheld in spaced relation with the support throughout the major portion oftheir intermediate length by a pair of bridge members It? and IS, thelatter of which forms a part of the instrumentality by which the tensionof the strings is varied while playing. When desired, a fretboard mayunderlie the strings throughout a portion of their length.

The instrumentality for varying the tension of the strings while theperformer is playing includes a mounting bracket 2| having spaced sidewalls 22 and 23 and a cover plate 24. The bridge member l9 connects theside walls at the front of the bracket and, intermediate the bridgemember and connecting bar [5 to which the ends of the strings areattached, a plurality of shafts 25 are rotatably mounted between theside walls. Each shaft, sixteen of which are shown in the illustratedembodiment, is provided with one or more longitudinally extending,substantially horizontal fingers 26 which are axially adjustable on thecorresponding shaft 25 to enable engagement with selected strings orcombinations of strings M. It will be evident that responsive torotational movement of one or more of the shafts 25 in one direction orthe other, the tension of the strings engaged by the respective fingermembers 26 will be varied. However, when the shafts are arrangedpositively to be actuated for rotational movement in one direction fromtheir normal position of adjustment, as illustrated, it is desirable toarrange the finger members to extend from corresponding shafts inopposite directions thereby to enable some fingers to decrease stringtension when one group of shafts is operated and to increase stringtension when shafts having fingers extending in the opposite directionare actuated. In this manner, a large number of adjustments can beeffected greatly to amplify the range of chords of the instrument whilethe performer is playing.

String tension, as varied by the rotational movement of shafts 25, iscontrolled by foot pedals 2'! supported for rocking movement at floorlevel on a horizontally disposed shaft 28 journalled at its ends to thebase I2. A feature of this invention resides in the operativeconnections whereby a plurality of the shafts 25 are controlled from asingle foot pedal thereby greatly to simplify the construction andoperation of the instrument. In the illustrated embodiment, each footpedal 21 is operatively connected to four shafts so that the four footpedals shown can be used to effect sixteen chord changes while theperformer is playing.

Each shaft is provided on one of its ends with a downwardly inclinedlever 29 lying adjacent the outer surface of one Or another of the sideplates 22 and 23. Adjacent pairs of levers 29, which may be secured, asshown, to alternate shafts 25, are pivoted at their ends to oppositeends of a horizontally disposed link or equalizer bar 30. Each link 30has an elongate slot 3| at one end slidably to receive a stud 32 securedto the end of the levers 29 in the connected pair. Rocking movement ofthe levers between a normally raised position and a lowered position ofadjustment, as regulated by suitable stops, is enabled, each lever beingurged to its raised or normal position of adjustment by coil springs 32aand 33 secured at one end to the bracket 2| and anchored at the otherend to an intermediate portion of the corresponding lever. The springsare of difierent weight; for example, spring 32a is of greater weightthan spring 33 so that, responsive to downward forces on the equalizerbar 36, the tendency is to rock first one lever and ien the other to itslower position of adjustment. Such separate movements are permitted bythe coacting slot 3| and stud 32 associated with the lever having thelighter spring 33. Thus, each equalizer bar 30 is able to control twoshafts 25.

A pair of equalizer bars or links 30 is connected to opposite ends of arocker arm 35 by separate connecting l'Ods or wires 34 pivoted at oneend to an intermediate portion of the respective link and at their otherends to opposite end portions of the rocker arm 35. The end portion ofeach rocker arm is provided with a plurality of openings to enableadjustment of the connecting rods.

As shown in Fig. 2, the central shaft 28 operatively connects the footpedal 27a with the rocker arm 3511. A concentric sleeve 37, freelyrotatable on the shaft 28, operatively connects the next adjacent pedal27?) with the rocker arm 35?), and corresponding concentric sleeves 38and 39 operatively connect pedals 27c and 27d with rocker arms 35c and35d respectively. The arms and pedals are separated one from the othernext adjacent by suitable spacers or sleeve extensions 40, 4| and thelike.

Rocking movement of each foot pedal 21, responsive to heel and toeactuation, is directly imparted to the corresponding rocker arm 35connected therewith. Thus, each rocker arm may be actuated between theextremes shown in Fig 3. Assuming that position 0 corresponds to thenormal position of the rocker arm, it may be rocked to position andposition 2 below 0, in which instance, the connecting rod to the rightin Fig. 3 will be effective for actuating the equalizer bar in a mannerto rock first one lever and then the other to lowered position. Sincethe point at which the second spring 32a becomes tensioned can bedefinitely felt by the increased pressure required to so tension thespring, a clear demarcation exists, which indicates when position I hasbeen reached, thereby to give two adjustments.

When the rocker arm 35 is actuated in the opposite direction topositions I or 2 above 0, the connecting rod to the left in Fig. 3 isrendered operative separately to adjust two other shafts 25. Thus, fourseparate adjustments are secured from each foot pedal, and more may beeffected in a like manner by proper arrangement of parts.

Describing the actions more explicitly, responsive to the differences inspring forces constantly urging the pair of connected levers 29 towardtheir normal raised position, the lever having the lower weight springand slidable at one end in the slot 3| is the first to respond to theinitial downward displacement of the, equalizer bar or link 39. In soresponding, it is rocked to its lower position of adjustment, the stud32 on the end of the lever shifting toward the opposite ends of the slot3| while the link 32 is rocked, during such movement, about the end ofthe other connected lever 29. This relation, wherein one of the leversis rocked toward its lower position of adjustment while the otherremains in its original or raised position of adjustment responsive tothe initial actuation of the corresponding foot pedal 21, is shown bythe pair of levers which is second from the right in Fig.

sacs-1,0 9

'which forces are .sufiicient to overcome both of the springs 32a. and33, whereupon the other lever 29 is rocked to its lower position ofadjustment, as illustrated .by the third set of levers in Fig. 4, andthe rocker arm is in position 2 in Fig. 3. .Whenthisoccurs, the free endof the first lever slides in the slot 3| to its original position ofadjustment While the link 30 rocks thereabout as its pivot. As the footpedal is released, the "coil springs 32a and 33 operate to return theconnected parts to their normal position of ad justment and, at the sametime, return the foot pedal 2! to its'original position of [adjustmentor mposition. The differences in forces required to actuate th'elfirstand then the second lever toward the lower position of adjustment can bereadily .felt :by the performer clearly to indicate when the first shafthas been rocked to its adjusted position and when the second shaft isrendered op- .erative. As aresult, it will be apparent that two chordadjustments may be effected by actuation of a single foot pedal in onedirection and that two additional adjustments can similiarly be effectedby actuation of the same foot pedal in the opposite direction. Thus, bythe use of butfour foot :pedals, sixteen chord changes can be made :bythe performer while playing.

Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive illustrate a modified form of instrumentali-tyfor varying the string tension responsive to actuation by the footpedals. In

this form, instead of mounting the shafts 25 for rotational movementbetween the side walls 22 and '23 of the mounting bracket or frame 2|,the corresponding shafts 59 are positioned above the frame for rockingmovement in the vertical plane in the direction toward and away from theframe Zia, and the strings Ma are tensioned between the anchor bar ifiaand the bridge Isa. One end .ofeach shaft in the form of a bar isprovided at one end to an inclined arm rigid with a side wall 22a of theframe and extending outwardly therefrom. Lin-k members '52 pivoted tothe other free ends of the bars connect selected pairs thereof. such asalternate pairs, as described in connection with the link as of thepreviously-described modification, the link members being connected-attheir center to corresponding wires or -rods'34a which leadto thefoot-actuated members. The free ends of the bars are resiliently held intheir upper position of adjustment by spring members 53 seated incorresponding sockets54 formed inthe side arm 23a of the frame to bearagainst the underside of the corresponding arm.

By arranging the spring members 53 so that a lighter spring 53a operatesto tension one'arm to its outer position of adjustment and a heavierspring member 53?) operates to tension the other a'rm'connected to thefirst by the link member 52, the desired order of arm actuation iseffected. In other words, responsive to actuation of the connecting rod34a, first the arm associated with the lighter spring member is actuatedto its lowered position of adjustment, and on further movement of thelink responsive to foot pedal operation, the heavier spring is flexedand the other arm is actuated to its lowered position of adjustment.

Another feature of this invention resides in the construction oftheoperating fingers 55,-one or more of which are iaterallyadjustable oneach armselectively to engage certain strings 1.4a as the armor arms areactuated. As shown, reach operating finger comprises averticallydisposed .U-shapedmember 56'having a recess in its lower wall:57 to receive the end of an adjusting screw 58 .which isslidablethrough an opening through the upper spaced wall 59 of the U-shaped'memher. The .threaded portion of the adjustingscrew is .operative in athreaded aperture .50 extending vertically-through the corresponding bar.53. A

.coil spring 6.! concentrically arranged about the adjusting screwbetween the bar 58 and the upper wall of the u-shaped member constantlyurges the .U-shaped member in the upward direction to effect a fullseating relation of the adjusting screw in the recess. The adjustingscrew is provided with a knurled knob 62 by which the screw is turnedtoposition the U-shaped member with respect to the supporting bar,thereby adjustably to position the U-shaped member with respect to thestring which it is adapted to engage on actuation. By proper adjustment,it is possible to regulate the amount of string tension effected vhenthe corresponding bar is rocked to its low-- .eredposition ofadjustment.

it will be manifest that the described string tensioning means may beoperated to effect mu1- tiple adjustments in a successive mannerresponsive to actuation of a foot pedal or by other means includingmanual, electrical, or mechan ical operation.

While two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described indetail, it will be understood that they are illustrative only and arenot intended to be a definition of the scope of the invention, referencebeing had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a stringed musical instrument, means for varying the tension ofselected strings to regulate the chord of the instrument, said meanscomprising a plurality of shafts extending transversely across thestrings and movable relative to the strings between operative andinoperative positions of adjustment, means constantly urging said shaftstoward their inoperative positions of adjustment, string engagingfingers carried by each of said shafts for tensioning selected stringswhen said shaft is moved to its operative position of adjustment,actuators for operation by the player of the instrument, and anoperative connection between each of said actuators and a plurality ofshafts for selectively moving said shafts in predetermined order betweentheir respective operative and inoperative positions of adjustmentresponsive to the operation of said actuator.

2. In a stringed musical instrument, means for varying the tension ofselected strings to regulate the chord of the instrument, said meanscomprising a plurality of shafts extending transversely across thestrings and -movab1e relative to the strings between operative andinoperative positions of adjustment, finger adjustably carried by saidshafts for engaging selected strings when said corresponding shaft ismoved to its operative position of adjustment, actuators on theinstrument for operation by the player of the instrument, connectionsbetween each actuator and said shafts for operating a pair thereof whensaid actuator is moved in one direction,

and separate resilient members constantly urging said shafts towardtheir inoperative position but with'unequal force in each pair ofconnected shafts whereby first one shaft responds to the 7 movement ofthe actuator and then the other responds to the movement of the actuatorin either direction.

3. In a stringed musical instrument, means for varying the tension ofselected strings to regulate the chord of the instrument, said meanscomprising a plurality of shafts extending transversely across thestrings and movable relative to the strings between operative andinoperative positions of adjustment, fingers adjustably carried by saidshafts for engaging selected strings when said corresponding shaft ismoved to its operative position of adjustment, actuators on theinstrument for operation by the player of the instrument, connectionsbetween said actuators and said shafts for operating a pair thereofresponsive to the movement of one of said actuators in one direction andfor operating another pair of said shafts where the same actuator ismoved in the opposite direction, and separate spring members of unequalweight urging each of said shafts in each pair inthe direction towardsthe inoperative position whereby the shafts are shifted in successiveorder from one position of adjustment to the other responsive to shaftmovements.

4. In a stringed musical instrument, means for varying the tension ofselected strings to vary the chord of the instrument, said meanscomprising a. plurality of shafts extending transversely across thestrings and rotatably mounted for movement between operative andinoperative positions of adjustment, fingers adjustably carried by saidshafts for tensioning selected engaged strings when the correspondingshaft is rotated to its operative position of adjustment, actuators foroperation by the player of the instrument, operative connection betweeneach actuator and a plurality of said shafts for actuating a groupthereof toward operative position when said actuator is shifted in onedirection and for actuating another group thereof when shifted in anopposite direction, and springs of unequal strength urging each of saidshafts in each group towards their inoperative position whereby theirmovement is successively responsive to the movement of the correspondingactuator.

5. In a stringed musical instrument, means for varying the tension ofselected strings to I;

change the chord of the instrument, said means comprising a plurality ofparallelly arranged shafts extending transversely across the strings androtatably mounted for movement between operative and inoperativepositions of adjustment,

fingers adjustably carried by each of said shafts for engaging selectedstrings when the corresponding shaft is in its operative position ofadjustment, links connecting pairs of said shafts in a manner to enabletheir relative turning movement responsive to actuation of said linkbetween two positions of adjustment, resilient members of unequal weightrespectively urging said shafts in each connected pair toward inop-'operative and inoperative positions of adjustment, fingers adjustablycarried by each of said shafts for engaging selected strings when thecorresponding shaft is in its operative position of adjustment, leversconnected to the ends of he shafts, links pivotally connecting pairs ofsaid levers enabling rocking movement of one lever relative to the otherduring link movement between two positions of adjustment, springs ofunequal weight urging said levers in each pair to position thecorresponding shafts in their inoperative position of adjustment, andpedal operating means for controlling the movement of at least two ofsaid links whereby the corresponding shafts are separately operated tothe desired position of adjustment.

7. A stringed musical instrument, as claimed in claim 6, in which eachlink is pivotally connected at one end to the lever associated with theheavier spring and pivotally connected at the other end through a slotin the link to the lever associated with the lighter spring wherebyresponsive to movement of the link to actuate the shafts towardoperative position, first the latter lever and then the former lever isrocked to effect the desired adjustment.

8. A stringed musical instrument, as claimed in claim 6, in which theoperating means comprises a rockable foot pedal indirectly connected atone end with one lever and at the other end with another lever wherebysaid pedal is adapted to operate four shafts.

9. In a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of stringstensioned over spaced bridges positioned intermediate the respectivelyfastened ends of the strings, means for varying the tension of thestrings to adjust the chord of the instrument, said means comprising aplurality of longitudinally spaced rotatable shafts extendingtransversely across the strings between one of the bridges and theadjacent fastened ends of the strings, fingers on the shafts adjustablyarranged to engage certain of the strings to vary their tension as theshafts are turned, levers fixed at one end to the ends of the shafts,links pivoted at one end to the free end of one lever and having aslotted portion in the other end in which another lever is pivotallyconnected thereby to enable relative turning movement between theconnected shafts when the link is shifted between two positions ofadjustment, and means for controlling the shifting movements of saidlinks between the two positions of adjustment.

10. In a stringed musical instrument, means for varying the tension ofselected strings to change the chord of the instrument while it is beingplayed, said means comprising a plurality of shafts extendingtransversely across the strings and mounted for rocking movement betweenoperative and inoperative positions of adjustment, fingers adjustablycarried by each of said shafts for engaging selected strings when thecorresponding shaft is in its operative position of adjustment, linksconnecting a pair of said shafts in a manner to enable their relativerocking movement between operative and inoperative positions ofadjustment, resilient means urging each shaft in said pair to itsinoperative position with unequal force whereby responsive to themovement of said link, the shafts are separately rocked to the desiredposition of adjustment, and actuator means con trolled by the player forcontrolling the movement of said links.

11. :In a stringed musical instrument, means for varying the tension ofselected strings to change the chord of the instrument while it is beingplayed, said means comprising a plurality of shafts extendingtransversely across the strings and pivotally connected at one end forrocking movement between operative and inoperative positions ofadjustment, fingers adjustably carried by each of said shafts forengaging said strings when the corresponding shaft is rocked to itsoperative position of adjustment, links connecting pairs of said shaftsat their free ends in a manner to enable one to rock with respect to theother, spring means constantly urging said shafts toward inoperativeposition with unequal force whereby the shafts move in successive orderin response to link movement, and means for controlling the movements ofsaid links.

12. A stringed musical instrument, as claimed in claim 11, in which thespring means resiliently urging each of said shafts toward inoperativeposition comprises a coil spring interposed between the instrument andthe free end portion of the corresponding shaft.

13. A stringed musical instrument, as claimed in claim 11, in which thelink is slotted in one end portion operatively to connect with the freeend portion of the shaft having the spring means exerting the lesserforce while the other end is in pivotal engagement with the other shaftof the connected pair.

14. An adjustable finger adapted to be carried on a movable shaft of astringed musical instrument comprising a rigid block apertured to enablethe shaft to extend transversely therethrough, a threaded memberoperatively engaging the rigid block and threadably engaging saidthrough-extending shaft whereby turning movement of said threaded memberenables relative movement of said block substantially perpendicularly tosaid shaft, and resilient means constantly urging said block verticallyrelative to said shaft toward the adjusted position.

15. An adjustable finger adapted to be carried by a movable arm of astringed musical instrument for tensioning the strings upon engagement,said finger comprisin a U-shaped member having an aperture through onearm in alignment with a recess in the other arm, a threaded memberextending through said aperture and into said recess and threadably engaing the shaft which is adapted to extend transversely between the armsof said U-shaped member when in the assembled relation, and resilientmeans constantly urging said threaded member fully to seat within saidrecess.

HERBERT HISE. JOHN B. COUSINEAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 751,880 Stevenson Feb. 9, 1904866,137 Hull Sept. 1'7,

1,553,157 Weaver Sept. 8, 1925

